What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).

Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bath	Pepperell
People
Population	1,097Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±8.6Highest 25% above U.S.	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Bath and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bath and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S.	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S.	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Bath and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,413Lowest 41% above U.S.	$6,698Highest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Bath School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.